Trolley-retriever.



W. G. STARKEY.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER.

APPLIOATION rum) NOV. 2a, 1908.

I 969,994. Patnted Sept. 13,1910.

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W. C. STARKEY.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1908.

969,994 Patgnted Sept. 13, 1910.

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atto'mag APPLICATION TILED NOV. 23, 1908.

Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

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WILLIAM CARLETON STARKEY, OF NORTH EAST, PENNSYLVANIA. I

TROLLEY-RETRIEVER.

Sneeification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 13, 1910. Application filed November 23, 1908.

Serial No. 464,023.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CARLa'roN Sax-unto), a citizen of the United States, residing at North East, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trolley- Retrievers, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to trolley retrievers and consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof as will he hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

The retriever in its preferred form is intended to maintain the trolley rope taut, hut yieldingly to permit the trolley to follow the variations in height of the trolley wire, and when the Po )e is pulled out rapidly in consequence ot the trolley leaving the trolley wire it throws in automatically devices for retrievin the trolley. The mechanism also inclu es devices for con- -.veniently resetting the retriever, tensioning its operating springs and other details of construction as will appear from the description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows;

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the retriever. Fig. 2 a section on the lines 22 in Figs. 1 and 4. Fig. 3 an elevation of the spring tensioning device, Fig. 4 a section on the line 4- in Fig. 2, a part at the top being broken away to a section on the line 4+ in Fig. 2. Fig. '5 is a section on the line l 1 s owing one position of the resetting check pawl. Fig. 6 is a simi ar section s owing another position of the reset.- ting check pawl.

1 marks the base of the case and 2 the cover. The coveris removably secured to the base by screws 2.

The spool 3 has the spool groove 4 on which the trolley rope 5 is wound. The rope passes through an opening 5 case. The spool 3 has a bearing at 6 on the spring tensioning device- 7 and at 8 on the flange 9* of the retrieving disk 9.

A rope tonsiouing spring 10 has one end secured to the spool and its other end secnrodmto the tensioning device 7. ,This spring isso wound as to resist the unwind.- ing of the rope from the spool and it then kee -is the rope taut at all times. of sutticient strength however to overcome the upward pressure to which the trolley is in the It is not 1 subjected so that the trolley is free at all times to follow the trolley wire. The tensioning device is rotatively mounted on the extension 1.1 on the stud 12 extendat the base of the extension has ratchet teeth 13 which are engaged by the teeth '14'on the end of the tensioning device. A pocket 15 is formed in the face of the tovor 2, and a spring 16 is placed in this pocket and is tensioned against the face of the pocket and a flange 7 on the device 7 .so as to keep the teeth 13 and 14 in engagement. A handle 18 is pivotally mounted on a pin 19" and in the slot 17 in the end of the device 7. By means of this handle the spring 10 may give any tension desired a'nd the ratchet teeth will hold the device to maintain this tension. By swin ing the handle toward axial alinement wit 1 the deextension 11 forces the device 7 outwardly leases the ratchet teeth so that 5 ring 10 may unwind. By the time the ratcliet teeth are disengaged the handle is near enough axial alinementto-turn readily in the hand. It will be noted that in order to remove the cover 2 it is necessary to swing handle 18 to releasing position. In this way the tension on the spring 10 is always released before the cover can be removed and this lessens the danger where the device is operated by inexperienced or careless hands.

The retrieving disk 9 has a hearing at 1!) on the stud 12, on the base at 20 and is adjacent at 21 to the edge of the. flange 22 on the side of the spool #23.

A spring 24 is secured to the flange 9, the

hook 26 and the hooks interlocking for this purpose. The other end of the spring 24 has a hook 27 which engages the edge of a notch 28 in the stud 12, thus locking this end of the spring on the stud. This spring A is strong enough at least in connection with spring 10 to retrieve the trolley.

A stop 29 is on the inner surface of the periphery of the base and near the top thereof. A pawl 30 is pivotally mounted in a slot 32 in the flange 22 and engages the stop 29 and thus looks the retrieving disk against the action of the spring 24.

The spool 3 has a series of arms 33 that I extend under the flange .22. These arms have 1 the pockets 34: open at their outer ends.

ing from the base 1. The shoulder formed vice its end 18 operating on the end of the against the tension of the spring 16 and respring having a hook 25 and the flange tho I Locking pieces are placed in these pockets, and are free to drive in the pockets under the influence of gravity, or centrifugal force. Normally the locking pieces drop to the bot= toms of the pockets when the arms are atthe top. The flange 22 hasthe outwardlyex-J tending recess 36 along its inner side so that the surface 37 ofthe weighted end 38 of the pawl while protruding fron rthe surface of the recessed portion. of the flange is: about:

in the same circle as the inpensurfaceof the flange 22 when the pawl is in engagement with the stop 29.

ing piece 35 is thrown out by centrifugal force and through friction and inertia is forced onto a'shoulder 40 at one side of the piece 35 and then forces the spool 4 to move:

with it to' wilid'in the rope'and thus retrieve the tr( lley.\"The rapid rotative movement given the retrievingdisk'exerts suflicient teentrifugal'forc'e on theweightedjend-38 of the pawl'30 to' force it out and the pawl end in so that thepawl will clear the stop 29 as the retrieving disk revolves. thatis neces sary to' res'ettthe retriever is to grasp the rope and withdraw it fro'm the'case. The

spool being locked {with the iretriever disk,

the retriever ilisk is rotated with the spool and the spring24 rem nd; This rewinding' of course mustbejso slow that the speed will not inakethe "cen'ti'ifugal force greater than, gravity,"s o that the pawl 30. will swing into place behind the retriever disk. v

In order thatthe rewin'ding' maybe automatically checked at the'proper point for the pawl 30 to act,,a1id to indicate thehlocking position ofthe retriever disk l prefer to provide mechai'iism for this purpose. A pocket'43 is formed in-the top of the base. A, checking pawl 44 is arranged in this pocket. It is pivotally mounted on the pin 45. The pawl 'has two finger's 46 and 47 and is weighted at 44 to position the-pawl with finger 47 extending downwardly as shown in Fig. 4/ Two lugs 48 and'49 are arranged on the periphery of the disk in position to engage the fingers 46 and 47 when they are-ina downward position. As the disk is rotated in rewinding thelug149 con tacts the 'finger'47 and swings the finger 46 in front 6f the lug 48 A further; movement is checked by the finger 47 cominginto' contact Withthe stop 50 [on the cas'etasshowii in Fig. 5. By allowing the disk to swing back stop thus lock the The pawl is prevented.

. from protruding farther through the flange "by the stop 39 resting on the flange. 7

When the spool is rotated rapidly the lock{ spool; and means on the spool extendi or a case having a stop; @a etrieXeIF :dis

and means oh the spool en ten 111g:.

. to throw the I pawl out of locking pposition i.

' In a trolley 'retrievingdevi [through the, recess; a ro spool.

. bination of a case having a -stop a ret "tween th'e fingers 46 and 47 is such that when'the finger 47 clears the lug 49, the lug 48 isso positioned that if the flange 22 is then stopped, the, fing.er .46 will contact the lug 48. i

What I claim as new is H 1. In a trolley retriever t he oeinhiiiationof a case having a stop; a' ret riever disk 30 having a cylindrical'flange; apawl mo1inted on the flange andoperating onthe stopgl a into the flange for actpating thepawl,

2. In a trolley retriever, the c'oinbinat having a flanget' a pawlfj o fiange and operating longthe o flange for actuating thepawl'wlien the spoo is rotated rapidly, the pawl heing wei ghte when the disk rotated rapidly.

wast.

enga ging the sto p3,. .lsai d eaten ding.

- l athe flange; devices on the spool? fo the pair], and for/locking' 'tl .1; L 4. In a trolley retrieving device, thec n ing disk liai 'ing'a fiangewith a pen p. H recess; a pawl mounted iii th flange lii or; engaging the stop,' "s aid pawl, extending intb the recess; a rope s p'di; devicesonjthe spool for actuating thepawl; ai' dforengaging thef end of the recess fOr'locking tlie dis with, the'spooh 5. In a trolley retriever, the combination I of a spool for the rope, saidspool, having 1 locking device pockets; aretrievingdew-ice means for locking the retrieving devieenQr- 1,15 mally against movement locking pieces, loose in the pockets and' arranged to,,he thrown by centrifugal force into position to lock the retrieving device withthe spool and: to actuate the Inea'nsto release;the getriev ing device the retrievingdevice being gfree. to move a plurality of revolutions-;wh1 1 leased. .1 i 1. 2; p 6. In a trolleyretriever, the combination... of a *spoolfor the rope, said; spool havinglocking device pockets; aretri'exgilig dewice; j

looking pieces loose inthe pockets-and an:

trieving device for locking the retrieving device uori'nally against. movement, said n'ieans-moving to engaging position when the retrieving device is moved slowly and out of locking position when aid retrieving device is moved rapidly.

7. In a t-rolleyretricver,the combination of a spool for the rope, said spool having hacking device pockets: a retrieving device; means for locking the retrieving device normally against movement, said means moving to engaging position when the retrieving device is moved slowly and out of locking position when said retrieving device is moved rapidly; and locking pieces loose in the pockets and arranged, to be thrown by centrifugal force into position to lock the retrieving device with the spool.

8. In a trolley retriever, the combination of a spool, said spool having locking device pock ets 34- therein with the shoulders 40 arranged at the sides of the pockets; a retrieving device having a shoulder 42 opposed to the shoulder40; locking pieces 35 loosely arranged in the pockets adapted to be thrown outby centrifugal force into locking position, and to move by gravity out of locking position; the pawl 30 for limiting the, retrieving device, said pawl having a weighted end 38 -for holding it normally in locking position with the retrieving device stationary, and for holding the pawl out of position with the retrieving device moving rapidly, said weighted endhaving the cam 41- in the path ofithe locking piece 35 when the locking piece is in locking position.

9. In a trolley retriever, the combination of a spool, said spool having locking device pockets therein with the shoulders 40 arranged atthe sides of the pockets; a retrieving device having a shoulder 42 opposed to the shoulder 40; looking pieces loosely arranged in the pockets adapted to be thrown .out' by centrifugal force into locking position. and'to move by gravity out of locking position: the pawl 30 for locking the retrieving device said pawl having a weighted end 38 for holding it normally in locking position with the retrieving device stati'onar and for holding the pawl out of posit-ion with the retrieving device moving rapidly, said weighted end having the cam 41 spaced ahead of the shoulder 42, so that. the pawl 30 is thrown out of locking position prior to the engagement of the shoulder =12 with the locking pieces.

10. In a trolley retriever, the combination of a case having the stud 12 with the extension 11 thereon; a spool having a bearing surface 6 and a second bearing surface 8; a retrieving device having a flange on which the bearing surface 8 rests: and springs for operating the retrieving device and the spool.

11. Ina trolley retriever, the combination of a spool; a retrieving device; springs for actuating the retrieving device; a spring for operating the spool: a case in which said retrievin device and spool. arc mounted; a ratchet device comprising a stationary part and a co-acting movablepart to which the spring operating the spool is attached, the ratchet device being arranged to move axially; and a spring for holding the ratchet device in engagement.

12. In a trolley retriever, the combination of a spool; a retrieving device; a spring for actuating the retrieving device; a spring for operating the spool; a case in which said retrieving'device and spool are mounted; a ratchet device for locking the S)0Ol spring under tension and meansoutsice the case for releasing tlieratchet device.

13. In a trolley retriever, the combination of a case having a removable cover; a re-;

trieving device arranged in the case; a spool arranged inthe case; a spring for actuating the retrieving device; a spring for actuating the spool; a ratchet device fortensioning the spool 'sprin from without the case and for rcleasing't 1c tension on the spool spring, said dv-icecomprising mechanism compelling the release of the tensionon the. spring prior tojthe removal of the cover.

14. In a trolley retriever, the combination of a spool; a case in which the spool is mounted; said case being provided with removable cover a spring for actuating the spool; means for tensioning the spring from without the case and for releasing the ten- Sion on the spring, said device comprising mechanism compelling the releasing of the tension on the spring prior to the removal of the cover. a

15. In a trolley retriever, the combination of a case having a removable cover; a spool in the case; a spring for actuating the spool a ratchet mechanism for tensioning the spring, said mechanism moving into and out of locking position by movement in an axial direction; a handle for actuating the ratchet mechanism from outside the case, said handle being pivotally mounted on the mechanism and arranged to throw the ratchet out of engagement, said case and handle being arranged to require the swinging of the handle to release the ratchet mechanism to permit the removal of the cover.

16. In a trolley retrieving device the combination of a case; a retrieving device mounted in the case; a lock for locking the retrieving device normally stationary; a spool on which the trolley rope may be wound; 'means' for locking the spool with the retrieving device; and an indicator adapted to indicate throughthe sense of touch when the locking device is in locking position.

17., I11 a trolley retriever, the combination of a case, a retrieving device mounted in the case; a locking device for the retrieving de AVAILABLE; QQPY vice adapted to lock theretrie ving device when stationary, and to be thmwn out of locking position when the retrieving device is moved rapidly; a trolley spool; means for locking the spool with the retrieving device; and an indicator adapted to indicate through the sense of touch when the locking device is in looking position.

18. In a trolley retriever,th'e combination of a case; a retrieving device mounted in the case, and having two lugs thereon;' a double pawl swingingly mounted in the case, the fingers of saidpawls being spaced with reference tothe distances between the two lugs on the retrieyingdevice, and weighted 5 so that thedeadinglugon the retrievin dc vice-first engages'one offthe fingers o the double pawl and swings thefsecond of said fingers in front ofutjhejsecond lug and a stop which the first 0f said fingers engages as the second. ofgsaid fingers is engaged-i'by the second of said lugs, the distance between the lugs bringing the second of said fin ers into engagement with the second of said lugs as the first of said-fingers clears the first of 40 said lugs.

In testimony-whereof Ii'herennto gstlm' I hand in the presence of :two .l-subscribing witnesses. A V my WILLIAM-SKELETON1STARKE Witnesses; I

CLYDE 0.; HIL 

